Around the time of BLACKPINK’s debut in 2016, it was announced that the number of members, which was originally planned to be 9, had been reduced to the current 4 members.

“There were originally 9 members but Yang Hyun Suk suddenly changed the plan two years ago to debut 4 members first. Although we don’t know exactly what he is thinking, the remaining 5 trainees are still at YG and BLACKPINK is thought of as an advance party, in a sense, back at the company.” ㅡ YG Affiliate

Among these 5 members who did not debut as a member of BLACKPINK was a trainee named Miyeon, who has now debuted as a member of (G)I-DLE.

The former YG trainee of 5 years, who was expected to debut with BLACKPINK, has made her debut with (G)I-DLE under Cube Entertainment.

Photos of Miyeon and the BLACKPINK members from the past have been surfacing with many fans commenting on how well she would have fit into the group.

“No wonder she had that feel of BLACKPINK”

“She’s beautiful”

“I think she would’ve been popular as a BLACKPINK member too”

“She’s totally BLACKPINK”

“She’s so pretty”

Although the reason she did not debut with BLACKPINK is unclear, rumor has it that she had been caught on a trip to Japan with MIX & MATCH contestant Jung Jin Hyung and asked to leave.

It seems, however, that she has maintained a good relationship with the BLACKPINK members as she revealed on a radio broadcast that she received a congratulatory text message from them when she debuted.

Another member of (G)I-DLE, Minnie, has ties to BLACKPINK as well, as she is known to be friends with Lisa.

Although Miyeon and BLACKPINK went their separate ways, Miyeon and her group (G)I-DLE have hit the ground running! Check out their “HANN(ALONE)” music video below: